Composite detachable desk or table top



April 5, 1932. E. ASH 1,852,342

COMPOSITE DETACHABLE lDESK OR TABLE TOP Fileu July 13. 1927 itlresult-ant.

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN'Ii OFFICE '.ELMER E. ASH, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DESK COM- PANY, 0F RENO,NEVADA, .A CORPORATION OF NEVADA COMPOSITE nn'rAcHABLE nnsx on TABLE TorApplication filed .Tuly 13, 1927. Serial No. 205,336.

This invention relates to the tops or working surfaces of desks, tables,benches or the like that are preferably formed of wood.

The tops of desks and tables, when subjected to various changes intemperature and humidity incident to general weather conditions, areapt, in a more or less degree, to warp or buckle and thus a surface onsuch desk or table top that is not perfectly flat is The cause for thisdefect is in most cases due to the fact that temperature and humiditychanges cause the outer or eX- posed part of the table or desk top toexpand or shrink, thereby setting up great stresses 1n i the top memberwhich results in its being warped or bent out of shape.

It has been the practice to cover table, desk and other working surfaceswith a heavy grade linoleum or other pliable material which has goodWearing qualities, by securing the same to the top in various manners,such as for example by gluing the linoleum or other material to the topmember. In practically all instances, heretofore,this resulted 5 in anunbalanced top whereby the natural pull or stress of the top memberwould cause it to warp or bend out of shape.

An object of my invention is to provide a composite top or workingsurface for desks, tables, benches and the like, which will be evenlybalanced and thus reduce to a minimum likelihood of such top warping orbending out of shape regardless of whether linoleum is used inconnection therewith or not. I accomplish this by providing a workingsurface or top that is mounted on a framework of wood of suiiicientstrength to overcome the natural pull or stress that tends to warp orbend the top out of shape, that is, the developed stresses in theworking surface due to the causes already enumerated are not ofsufficient strength to bend or warp the framework or foundation uponwhich the top surface or working surface is mounted. As a consequencethe working surface or top in my invention remains perfectly true andsmooth when subjected to the effects of glue, humidity and temperaturechanges.

An object is to provide a top member for 5@ desks, tables, and the liketo which a linoleum surface may be easily, quickly and cheaply securedwithout destroying the balance of such top member. That is the topmember is so constructed that after applyinga linoleum surface theretothe stress or natural pull of the wood top tending to warping will be sodistributed as to be overcome by the stress of the base or foundation towhich the top surface member is attached or secured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a smooth and true workingsurface or table, or bench top which will be much lighter in weight thanpresent tops for similar articles.

An object is to so construct a top member for tables, desks and the likethat warping thereof is reduced to a minimum, and practically elminated,especially when linoleum is used in combination therewith to provide aWorking surface.

Simplicity, cheapness in manufacture, with a maximum of rigidity andstrength are other objects.

A still further ob]- ect is to provide a detachable table or desk topthat will be less costly than ordinary and ply wood tops heretoforeused.

My invention is broadly new, basic and pioneer in that I provide an openframework or foundation member made of material having a relativelylarge thickness, and attach or secure thereto a three or more ply toppanel member having a thickness relatively smaller than the foundationmember.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appendedclaims.

Although the principles of my invention may be applied to, or embodiedin, many devices on which a working or top surface is desired, for thepurpose of simplicity I have illustrated my invention in the form I atpresent deem preferable in the accompanying drawings as applied to anordinary office desk.

Figure l is a perspective view of an ordinary oiiice desk now in generaluse, and having my novel top member secured thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of mynovel table or taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

The desk body A is of any standardv construction including uprights 11,held in place by horizontal spacing members 12 4at the top and bottom ofsaid uprights. The usual drawers 13 and partitions 14 may beprovidedbetween the uprights 11 or they may be omit- -ted if desired to formatable of ordinary construction.

IThe top member 15 is detachably secured `to 'and heldin place on body Aby 'any suitable means as by clips 16 (see Fig. through which screws 17extend into the uprights 11 of the framework of the desk body A andscrews 18 extend Vinto framework of the top vmember A. By removing thescrews 18 from the top member A and clips 16 the top member may belifted from the body A.

The composite'top member 15 comprises an open framework foundationmember a that includes side members or rails 19, 2O spaced apart bysuitable spacing or cross members 21 that are preferablyvmortised to andextend between the rails`19, as shown in FigfQ and positioned atintervals' along said rails. The cross membersas shown do not extendabove or below the rails 19, 20,'but preferably terminate flush with theupper and lower surfaces thereof, so as to obtain a maximum strength andrigidity for the foundation member. A panel or Vsurface member b madeout of three or more ply is secured to the foundation member a by anysuitable means, such as by gluing and covers'the entire surface of thefoundation member a to form therewith the top `member 15. The panel orsurface member Z) is relatively tliinner than the base member beingapproximately one half or one third as thick as the rails and crossmembers forming-the foundation member.v In the event the panel Z9 ismade ofmorethan three ply of material E22, 23, 24 `as shown, therelative total thickness thereof with the'base member a should be aboutthe same as shown.

By constructing the top member-15 as above described the frameorfoundation member a will provide a sufficiently strong base for thetable or desk top to adapt the table or desk to the use that suchdevices are usually subjected to. The open framework a eliminatesconsiderable material that has heretofore been required in making table.or desk tops which have heretofore been made of solid material. When thepanel b is secured to the base a, the combined thickness will vbe suchthereto.

generally used for tops of desks surfaceis fastened around the edge ofthe top .member 15 togive a finished appearance The banding c may befastened to the-top-by any suitable-meansysuchastby glue, nails,'orscrewsl A covering forsaid panel, of ycompositkm cloth ,suchIaslinoleumof any fsuitabl'e4 or ldesirable color, maybe glued to v thef. panel or surface member Z9 -to entirely cover the same and-providea'working surface instead of-tlie wood veneering 22,28 and-24. e

By constructing Vthe t'op member '15, as abovedescribe'd Lprovideanfovel-ftop for desks, tables and the; like Iwhich willnot warpVbecause the yrelatively "thinj Vpanel including the composition clothsecured 'thereto will not have of itself,` under temperature orl'iumidity changes jor-the Vaction of the glue securing the compositioncloth Vto the; panel, 'sl'iiiicient stress ornatural pull-'tofoffsetthestress` or natural :pull of the base orfoundationfmember a andthereby warp or-.bendthefworking surface ofthe top4 member out 'of true.

- I claim:

1. `A. compositeV top .member yfor desks, tables and the like comprising'an open frame work foundation vmember 5 `and l a relatively thin panelf member "having a vthickness apa proximately one-third to *onedial'f ofthe thickness of the foundation member, Aand said panel havingfa fnatural pulland stress that will not offset the natural pull antistressof the foundationI member toy ca-use 'warping of said' members.

2. 'A compositev top-*member for ydesks, -tablesE and the likecomprising'aJ 1foundation member; a. :panel member secured thereto,

said panel member having a thickness irela# tive to the foundationmemberl :approxinab ing one-third to one-half thefthickne'ss ofthefoundation memberfzso 'that the' natural stress and pullofthepanelfmember'fwill notfoifset the natural"stressandzpullofthefoundationy member to' cause warping 'of said members Yanda. composition `*cloth fcovering'zsuperimposed upon vand securelyffastened to' and entirelycovering said panel member.

VIn testimony4 whereof,n I have"` hereuntoset my hand at Los Angeles,'-'GaliforI-im, i' this 5th day of July,*1'927.

' '-fASH.

